Meconopsis is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Papaveraceae or Poppy family. These plants are often known for their beautiful blue petals, but they also come in a variety of purple, white and yellow. Commonly referred to as Himalayan Poppy as they are found natively in the Himalayan Mountains. Given their natural habitat, these plants are fairly hardy, but remain difficult to because being monocarpic they only flower and set seed only once.
Meconopsis Taxonomy
The name comes from the Greek for ‘poppy like’, and so other Poppy type flowers were Meconopsis genus. Most Poppies are listed in their own Papaver genus, Papaver being Latin for Poppy, but the Meconopsis genus is kept separate for these Himalayan flowers. All poppies belong to the Order Ranunculales, or Buttercups.
Aeonium arboreum or Tree Houseleek is a subtropical succulent plant native of the Canary Islands and Madeira but has spread to the Iberian Peninsula and North African coast. They make good houseplants and can be grown in patio pots in a sunny position. They should be covered or brought indoors when temperatures fall.
Callistemon is a genus of exotic flowering plant from the Myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Commonly called the bottlebrush plant for obvious reasons.
Currently, there is a debate as to what plants should be specified as Callistemon and those that are a closely related genus, Melaleuca. It appears that on DNA evidence alone most Callistemons are in fact Melaleucas. This is disputed due to differences in physical make-up of the flowers. This has been going on for over 150 years so still a work in progress.
What is the difference between Melaleuca and Callistemon?
The two genus both belong to the Myrtaceae family but historically have been kept separate because of certain characteristics of the flower. In both cases they can look like a ‘bottlebrush’, ie. A brush for cleaning bottles with. The stamens growing in clumps from the central woody branch with just a small petal array at the base of each clump.
The melaleuca was defined by the difference that these multi-stamen flowers had stamen that are fused into small groups at the base, whilst Callistemon doesn’t. That isn’t a valid difference in every case. For instance Callistemon viminalis (Weeping Bottlebrush) has stamen that are also fused into small groups at the base.
Recent use of DNA testing has shown that these two genera are more closely connected than was originally assumed. Most botanists will take one side or the other, follow the DNA or stick with the visible characteristics and keep the two genera separate. Where I live, if they look like a bottlebrush, they will be referred to as Bottlebrush for a long time to come.
Achillea or Yarrow is a species of the family Asteraceae, commonly known as the daisy family. It has many small flowers in a cluster at the top of a thin stalk arising from the base plant and extending high towards the sunlight. It is a native, common wild flower but has many species and cultivars to expand on the basic wild variety.
The name Achillea is from Greek mythology as the leaves were used to treat the wounds of Achilles’ Soldiers. It has many other common names that relate to its medicinal use to heal wounds and stop blood flow.
Achillea or Yarrow, when not in the wild, is a tall flowering plant used in borders of cottage or wildlife gardens. Due to its height and slender form it can compete for space and thrive alongside its neighbours. It best sits mid border and provides clusters of small colourful flowers, tightly packed and resilient. Without neighbouring plants to help it may need support to keep it up and looking its best.
In the natural form the flowers are usually white and clusters as a tightly packed head at the top of the rising stem. There is now a wide variety of colours, from deep reds and pinks through orange, yellow and white. Easy to grow perennial that will keep spreading over time.
The leaves are fern like or feathered, frilly or hairy, and mainly come from the base but also interspaced up the main shoot that holds the flower head at the top. These leaves are often aromatic and edible in small quantities.
Achillea or Yarrows are very tolerant border perennials that can do well in most situations but don’t like heavy, wet soil. They are native to more temperate climates of the Northern Hemisphere.
There are more than 1000 named species, sub-species, or varieties assigned to the genus of Achillea. Two popular species are the Achillea millefolium, common yarrow, and the Achillea ptarmica, sneezewort. Generally, the millefolium has smaller and more tightly packed flower heads, whilst the ptarmica has larger more openly spread flower heads.
Achillea is a good plant to consider for not only its form and long flowering colourful displays, it is very attractive to insects that promote a wider pollination to improve biodiversity, but also has medicinal healing properties that have long been used to treat many different ailments.
The Common Bluebell, scientifically known as the Hyacithoides non-scripta, is to be found flowering in the woodlands of Western Europe and the British Isles. This bulbous perennial flowers, en masse, during April and May and produces a spectacle that has inspired and challenged artist for generations.
Plant Family – Part of the Asparagaceae family or asparagus family that includes Asparagus, Camassia, Hosta, Hyacinth and Yucca.
Native to – These flowering plants are native to the areas of Western Europe near to the Atlantic Ocean.
Common Names – It is often called the Common Bluebell or Woodland Bluebell.
Flowers – The flowers are small and bell shaped in a single violet-blue colour. The flowers grow on one side of the stem producing a curved flower head, unlike the Bluebells more often found in gardens.
Foliage – The leaves spread radially at ground level leaving the stems to grow from up and flower.
Height and Spread – The bulbs lay dormant in the ground over winter and come back to life in the spring. The leaves spread about 12″ around the base and the steps come up between 12″ to 18″ inches high.
Position – These plants thrive in a shaded or partially shaded location with a well drained soil. This makes them ideal in a woodland garden, but also work in a wildflower meadow, cottage garden or herbaceous border.
Overall, these plants will thrive and multiply, once established and protected from damage. Walking over them can lead to permanent damage that they will struggle to recover from. Admire from a distance.
Acer palmatum or Japanese Maple provide excellent colour and structure to the garden. Green, yellow, orange to dark red, they help to break up a sea of greenery. Colours changing through the season and bare skeletons in the late autumn and winter months.
Here in our focus image, we have two similar but distinct varieties. The name palmatum comes from the similarity to the human hand or palm with leaves spread out like fingers. These fingers can be dissected as in the far Acer or doubly dissected as in the near Acer. The double dissection making the leaves like feathers.
There are also two basic structures here. The far Japanese Maple is an upright Acer, whilst the near is more of a weeping Acer. The weeping structure provides a pleasing dome shape to the plant.
Japanese Anemone are perennials that are characterised by tall stalks and flat wide single flowers in an array of different colours. They are simple to grow but in heavy shade tend to get leggy and require support. This is especially true for the Japanese Anemone but there are varieties such as the ‘wood anemone’ that grow closer to the ground and ideal for more shady areas.
Popular hybrids like the ‘Richard Ahrens’ can grow up to 1 metre tall and has flowers of 7-8cm across. The contrasting pale pink with dark pink edge and vivid yellow stamens make a pleasing contrast with lush green surroundings. They are easy to grow and will spread if not restrained.
In the winter they will recede back to the tuberous roots and re-appear in the spring provided the roots have not been waterlogged.
Due to their height and little need for attention they are a good option for mid flower border or informal cottage garden and will attract insects and other wildlife to add to the an overall healthy ecology.
